697 research outputs found

    Status of Acute Stroke Practice in Patients with a Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device

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    Although diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for acute stroke patients in Japan depend largely on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) must still rely on com-puted tomography (CT). We retrospectively analyzed clinical and neuroimaging data of ischemic stroke patients with CIED treated at our hospital. Forty-five patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether corresponding lesions were detected (group A, n = 21) or not detected (group B, n = 24) by the first brain CT. We also evaluated in detail the clinical courses of patients who arrived at hospital within therapeutic time windows for recanalization therapy. Negative fresh infarct in the first CT was associated, though not significantly, with early onset-to-arrival time and subcortical white matter infarction. Five patients did not undergo recanalization therapy because their families did not agree to the procedure. The reasons for their lack of consent included inadequate information about the safety and efficacy of recanalization therapy because MRI could not be performed. Our study confirmed delayed detection of the corresponding lesion and undertreatment for acute stroke in patients with CIED

    The Development of a New Setup for Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery

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    In order to accomplish video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in a much easier and safer way, especially for assistant operators, we have developed a new display system for VATS. The original thoracoscope has been designed for this new system. The monitor is fixed at approximately 10 cm away from the surface of the chest wall just above the operative field. In using this procedure, the operator and assistants can see the patient and the monitor at the same time. According to this new idea, the previous problem in the area of hand–eye coordination and the three-dimensional understanding of this procedure can be improved compared to the image of the conventional thoracoscopy, because it is not necessary for the operator and assistants to look up at the monitors. When the thoracoscopy was placed in an adequate position to resect the target pathology, this new system led to good and easy handling of instruments, as it was with the standard thoracotomy

    Effect of Nutrient Inputs on Water Quality Change and Phytoplankton Growth in Atsumi Bay

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    Eutrophication in an estuary occurs as an effect of the enrichment of nutrient inputs from rivers. This condition has become one of the most common environmental issues experienced around the globe and especially in Japan. Atsumi Bay is a eutrophic coastal area in Japan. The objective of this research was to analyze the influences of nutrient inputs from the Umeda River into Atsumi Bay on pre- and post-rainfall water quality conditions. This study was conducted from July to October 2010. The results showed a decrease of surface salinity after rainfall indicating that huge freshwater inputs had overlaid the surface layer of Atsumi Bay rather than the bottom layer. Moreover, post-rainfall conditions showed an increase of chlorophyll a as an effect of phytoplankton growth, followed by an increase of particulate nutrients. On the other hand, dissolved nutrients decreased due to uptake by phytoplankton and dilution by freshwater

    Prevention of NSAID-Induced Small Intestinal Mucosal Injury: Prophylactic Potential of Lansoprazole

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    Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are used for the treatment of several inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, are well known to cause gastroduodenal mucosal lesions as an adverse effect. Recently, the serious problem of NSAID-induced small intestinal damage has become a topic of great interest to gastroenterologists, since capsule endoscopy and double-balloon enteroscopy are available for the detection of small intestinal lesions. Such lesions have been of great concern in clinical settings, and their treatment and prevention must be devised as soon as possible. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), such as lansoprazole and omeprazole, show a potent anti-secretory effect. PPIs also have a gastroprotective effect, independent of their anti-secretory actions, which is probably mediated by inhibition of neutrophil functions as well as antioxidant actions. Administration of lansoprazole reduced the severity of the intestinal lesions in a dose-dependent manner, but omeprazole had no effect. The amount of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein in the intestinal mucosa was significantly increased by lansoprazole, but not by omeprazole. These results suggest that lansoprazole, but not omeprazole, ameliorates indomethacin-induced small intestinal ulceration through upregulation of HO-1/carbon monoxide. Therefore, lansoprazole may be useful for preventing the adverse effects of NSAIDs not only in the stomach but also in the small intestine

    Human metaphase chromosome consists of randomly arranged chromatin fibres with up to 30-nm diameter

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    Wako, T., Yoshida, A., Kato, J. et al. Human metaphase chromosome consists of randomly arranged chromatin fibres with up to 30-nm diameter. Sci Rep 10, 8948 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65842-z
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